--- Android Features ---

We have presented an introduction to the Android OS, and born of the hands of Google and how we can develop applications.

Now review the features of the platform, then set up our development environment so that, through an emulator, and thanks to the Eclipse IDE we have a production environment that allows us to develop applications that run on mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and we can test without having the device.
ANDROID PLATFORM FEATURES
Let us briefly review the main features Android OS, which will introduce later in this blog and go interiorizing to dominate as programmers:


Application Framework: allows replacement and reuse of components.

Integrated browser: openSource based on Webkit engine, we already have a browser, ie, our applications can display HTML, something very interesting.

SQlite: A database for structured data, which integrates directly with the applications and we can use in our programs.

Multimedia: Support common media formats, audio, video and image plane (MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG, GIF).

Dalvik Virtual Machine: A virtual machine application. We allow each application to run in a separate process with its own virtual machine instance.

Camera, GPS, compass, accelerometer. GSM Telephony, Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G and wireless cell dependent on which you run Android.

Touch Screen: SmartPhones models already exist, such as Kyocera Echo, with Android and double touch screen.

Android Market: allows developers to make applications, free or paid, in the market through this application accessible from all phones with Android.

Yes, there is a relationship between the Java Programming Language, the Android platform and the Dalvik virtual machine.

The programmer writes one (or more) classes in Java, then compile and get a file (. Class) to Java bytecode.

On the other side of the relationship, the Android SDK has a utility called "DEX", which is responsible for converting a file. Class in a file. Dex, so what is a. Dex?

Well, one. Dex has the bytecode. Class "translated" so that they understand now the Dalvik virtual machine. Then, this. Dex (or more) is packaged with other resources of the application form the project developer, in a file. Apk, which is the executable Android.

Dalvik virtual machine IS NOT A Java virtual machine, often it is confused, but we have to clarify this from the start, since you are working with bytecode is Java bytecode.

This virtual machine is optimized for low memory use and allows us to run multiple instances by delegating to the underlying operating system support for process isolation, memory management and thread.

According to official documentation has the Android site, the name for this virtual machine was chosen in honor Dalvík Bornstein, a town of Eyjafjörður, Iceland, where his ancestors lived.

With this we have a brief glimpse of what is Android, which supports it, and if we are programmers is time to start the installation process of the tools for programming.

We see in the next innings, best regards,

Mr. Mariano Salvetti